Buju - Shabba - Matterhorn At MSG
Cinco de Mayo weekend was rockin’ in the NYC on the dancehall reggae tip. We were on the check-in at Club Amazura in Queens where Lady Saw, Mavado, Assassin and Aidonia were tearing the roof off the club on Saturday, the actual 5th of May. The following night Buju Banton and a legendary lineup of “friends” brought dancehall reggae majesty to Madison Square Garden. It is safe to say that seldom is there such an exciting assembly of masterful entertainers making dancehall reggae history and putting on the kind of performance that took place May 6th.
New York City’s own Dahved Levy deserves much props for putting together this awesome ensemble of artists for this amazing concert. Dahved is very much a legend! Many of us in the Nowadayzdancehall.com camp remember bopping around The Big City in early 1990’s listening to Dahved Levy when he was but one of only two popular Caribbean radio personalities on mainstream radio in New York at the time.
For many of us, and surely a multitude of others, Mr. Levy inspired us to be confident, intelligent, joyous and proud as people representing our West Indian heritage within the American mainstream without having to feel isolated from it. With his witty charm and an accent borne of his roots in Barbados and upbringing in England, the “Original Rude Bwoy” would blow up the spot and tell us about it as he selected the choicest Caribbean music hotness and say, “Dahved Levy rockin’ you! Rockin’ you!” He has always displayed the enthusiasm of a veteran entertainer and the astute boldness of any dignitary and pushed Caribbean music into unprecedented realms of mainstream acceptability at the same time. Man look, he’s always been more than a radio DJ. He’s a lot like Barack Obama&Omega giving us the audacity to hope! Ayo Dahved, your monumental contribution to West Indian culture and music are greatly appreciated at Nowadayzdancehall.com! You must know dat, faddah!
My associate Country Man and I entered the Garden just in time to catch the tail end of DJ Roy introducing current dancehall reggae sensation Da’ville. He has brought a distinct sound to eager dancehall fans who yearn for the discovery of new talent and style. We did not expect to see him perform this night. Hearing his brand of sound, which is a soothing blend of American R&B and Classic Reggae, was nothing short of amazing. In a ten-minute block he blazed off heart-pumping ballads like “Baby Your All That Need”, “This Time I Promise” and a tune called “Always on My Mind”, which provoked more of a crowd reaction than the other two selections. A couple minutes were not enough to get a full impression of the entertainer, considering his apparently ample supply of talent. We hope to catch him in action again in the future…
Lady Saw was the second “friend” to accompany Buju to the Garden. Oh it got extra noisy when Saw got right down to business with the tune “Man a Nuh Problem” on the Eight-Five riddim. In a show of feminine solidarity most of the women in the audience hollered, shouted and hoisted up their hands in approval. Staying true to her reputation for explicit material, Lady Saw put on her “Tight P**** Walk” which continued to feed the surge of energy being conjured up. She went back to 1996 and dished out the banger “Woman Mi Name” from the Dave Kelly “Haunted” riddim. Saw went into more details concerning intimacy, explaining how some woman like it on top and some like it lying down, but for her it is all about the “Backshot”, which she originally explained on the song with Spragga Benz.
On a tender note, Lady Saw then explained that many people have lost their children either through violence, accidents or just natural causes and she too knows the pain of losing a child. Saw was alluding to her recent miscarriage. She proceeded to tell the haters out their to “Talk To Mi Back”. And with that, Saw was gone. I guess we’ll have to catch more of her from her new album “Walk Out” which is out there as we speak…
At the concession stand a young lady from the audience asked me if there was a live band that would be accompanying Buju. I asked why it mattered and she explained that Buju is not Buju without his Shiloh Band. Before she could receive her purchases, the stage curtains parted and Buju’s Shiloh band was introduced.
As the “Wipe Out” riddim hit the crowd everyone leapt to their feet and Gargamel pounced on stage with “Bongo Cart”. The Shiloh Band then changed up the flow and dropped the vintage “Punnany” riddim. Like a jockey on a horse Buju mounted the “Punnany” and started to wuk out the “Waist Line”. The Banton also made mention of those ladies who “Look Good” to the point they make him holler and shout. Shiloh eased off the Punnany (riddim) and came with the “Man Fi Dead” riddim. Buju asked “Hey Bwoy! A wey dat yuh a do..!” Madison Square Garden was rumbling with a massive vibe, my people. Buju then pointed to the crowd and declared he wasn’t into anything “Too High” or anything too low. The countless spectators were moving at the direction of Mr. Banton, who had the place bubbling like red peas in a boiling pot…
The Shiloh Band took us all back to 1995 with the “Arab Attack” riddim. Ayo, Shiloh killed this riddim with such a crisp sound. We’ve never heard it sound so good. Big up Shiloh! If you remember 1995 as a dancehall aficionado should, you would recall that there was no realer song on the “Arab Attack” than Buju’s “Only Man”. Buju couldn’t get through the first couple of lines of the tune without the verbal “buccam! buccam!” popping out from every section of the Garden. Buju was really cruising at this point, so he jumped on the “Bad Company” A.K.A “Row Boat” riddim and explained that “Gun Nuh Kill People”. Indeed Buju, people kill people and we need the senseless violence to stop!
Buju then asked the lighting personnel to light up the room and then told the ladies to walk like a “Champion” and talk like a champion. What a classic ride that was! It’s about 10:30pm and the Dancehall Legend Buju Banton has transformed into the Conscious Heart Buju, of the ‘Til Shiloh’ album. When “Strange Feelings” exploded from his lunges trust when you’re told that almost everyone in the audience sang along with the artist word for word. The boiling pot was now over flowing with Buju sliding into a performance of his signature works.
You can’t help but to be reminded that no man, or woman, is an island when you hear a song like “Wanna Be Loved”. Neither can one deny the power of songs of life such as “Not An Easy Road”, “Chuck It” and “A Bit Longer” also from the acclaimed Til Shiloh album. All was definitely going well, but when Buju dropped “Untold Stories” the audience went into another mode. Let’s just say man and man did a blaze up “de ting”. Feeling the energy the audience was now emitting, Buju felt their power and went into a trance-like, foot-skipping display on the stage. He soaked in the nuclear-level energy being created by music and mind-state and he looked hypnotized as he did the familiar “skanking” type dance, very much enthralled in euphoria unto his own private realm…
After his spirit returned to him on stage, Buju then placed his left foot on one of the speaker-monitors on stage and started to recollect a childhood memory, telling the story like a worldly sage revealing age-old secrets to young disciples:
When he was 11 years old he was watching an older gentleman putting together a spliff. At the end of the rolling process the man coated the spliff with honey. A young Mark Myrie, years away from realizing his potential as a potent lyricist named Buju Banton, asked the man why he coated his spliff with honey. The man told the boy that doing this kept his voice sounding thick and cool.
In moments, the older mentor from the memory strode toward center stage in a sleek sports jacket, vest and tie. The legend known as Shabba Ranks came into view and the roar of the ecstatic audience cracked the atmosphere. Buju announced Shabba and invited the veteran to stand alongside him. The audience exploded with admiration again.
It was shot after shot beginning with one of the surest of them all “Woman Cyaan Done” on the Punnany riddim.
“I am not going to a circus, I am not going to a fair, but since this is a stage I have to be here,” declared Shabba. He asked everyone in attendance to “Get Up, Stand Up and Rock”. “Mr. Loverman” then professed to the ladies that “Gal You Good”.
Shabba had the audience eating out of his hand from the moment he posted up in front of the crowd. Ah veteran dat! By dropping another classic, “Girls, Girls Everyday” vivid recollections of the late 1980s and early1990s dancehall years were re-lived. Let’s not forget that if it weren’t for the success of the next song he ripped through, “Dem Bow” that the riddim couldn’t have blossomed into ubiquity in the reggaeton genre. Yeah we’re saying it! Shabba helped pave the way for the Daddy Yankees, the Tego Calderons, as well as the Vybez Kartels or the Mavados! The crowd response was exquisite glee carved on their faces. This was apparent even across generational lines with young and old rockin, groovin’ and swayin’ to Shabba’s style.
Buju then returned to the stage and stated that he could not allow Shabba to go before doing his favorite tune. “When I was a little boy my favorite game was this,” said Buju. Shabba took back the stage and boomed it down with “Winey Winey” aka “Peanie Peanie”. Ladies in attendance syncopated their waistlines to the stirring bassline and Shabba’s deep, thundering rapid-fire vocals. You know things wouldn’t be right if he didn’t uphold his reputation as a deejay who is bad, bad and “Wicked Inna Bed”. What else would you expect from the man who told Madison Square Garden he “Love Punnany Bad”? The crowd hollered for more but Shabba was gone, leaving the hazy memories of a legend and a Golden Era of Dancehall Reggae lingering behind…
Buju thus returned to the stage and he thanked Shabba for introducing him to the Dancehall industry. He then unleashed hits such as “Psalms”, “Destiny”, “Hills and Valleys”, “Batty Rider”, “Love Sponge”, “One To One”, “Cry Over Me”, and “Murderer”. The audience sang the words to every song loudly and in unison with the performer, so much so that Buju almost couldn’t get a word in edge-wise!
Dahved Levy came to the stage, resuming his role as the master of ceremony as it were, and asked the people if they wanted more Buju--- and you know the response. But before Buju came back on Dahved asked for recognition of the elders who have contributed immensely to the widely-dispersed Caribbean community and the diverse set of music genres which were born on The Islands. Dahved also asked for a round of applause for the legendary New York Knicks center, and fellow Caribbean (from Jamaica) who was in attendance, Patrick Ewing. The applause for Patrick was astounding. Dahved promised that he would never stop pushing the music until it is recognized in the mainstream, until the day that Buju wins a Grammy “under the bright stage lights not presented with it backstage.”
Buju then stormed back on stage with the “Taxi” riddim (dum!do-dum-dim-dum!) playing and if you know tunes you knew which one was coming. Buju became our melodious tour guide, the “Driver”, with the ganja in tow taking us to the other side of life for our brothers and sisters trying to get their herbman hustlin’ on. Brooklyn has to stand up with this tune every time!
Before leaving that stage Buju explained that we will no longer be singled out by any group because we have been oppressed for too long. He said “If I fi get a grammy mi get bammy”, and the audience roared with laughter. Buju thanked all those in attendance for coming out and left them with the tune “Better Days Are Coming” to punctuate his departure.
Dahved Levy returned to the stage accompanied by MSG personnel and introduced a woman by the name of Jackie who was responsible for this concert as the manager of all Madison Square Garden Theatre operations. Dahved went on to say that she has always supported the Caribbean community and that although he was about to exceed his allotted amount of time for this affair, Jackie had granted him another 30 minutes to bring on stage for the first time in MSG, Tony Matterhorn!
Tony came out, dapped up with a black, pin-striped suit and launched into his “Man from Mars”. He then stressed to the cute ladies in the audience that for all the men in the world they are “Goodas Fi Dem”. Tony then brought out Ding Dong for the assist and he freaked some crazy dance moves. Ding Dong then went into overdrive with his ultra-popular “Badman Forward”.
Matterhorn revealed that even his mother tried a certain dance one time and his three year old daughter has been doing it since she was a year old&Omega the “Dutty Wine” !? Tony’s a madman! He did the song with the same title before he bounced off as quickly as he had arrived…
Everything about this concert was legendary. The overall production was excellent. Promoters within the dancehall industry, take notes. This is how a show should come off: everything on time, everything in place, all performers doing an excellent job, all audience members properly behaving and everyone having a great time. Truthfully folks, our words could never adequately capture the real magic and power that all these brilliant entertainers possess.
This showing at world famous Madison Square Garden illustrated that dancehall reggae is a burgeoning force within the music universe and it will bring Caribbean culture itself to greater heights, especially if ambassadors like Dahved Levy continue to march on for this cause. At Nowadayzdancehall.com, we also take pride in being carriers of the message and not the mess&Omega artists like Buju have contributed positively to the plight of humanity in different ways by illuminating some of the social travesties and injustices that exist in the world, instead of creating them. We are proud and honored to share our account of these events with you and we guarantee that more exclusive coverage from Nowadayzdancehall.com is always just a click away…
Click here to view photos about this event.
For Reactions email me at shotta@nowadayzdancehall.com
Reported by: Mr. Shakes
Assisted By: Country Man
Photography: Country Man
Layout and Design: B.Diamondz and Mistah Shakes
Written by: DESTRO
Nowadayzdancehall.com 2007
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